Monarch-1 Activation in Murine Macrophage Cell Line (J774 A.1) Infected with Iranian Strain of Leishmania major

Background

Leishmania major is an intracellular parasite transmitted through the bite of the female phlebotomine sand flies. Leishmania major is able to escape the host immune defense and survive within macrophages. Modulation of the NF-κB (Nuclear Factor-Kappa B) activation and suppression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines by L. major are the main evasion mechanisms that remain to be explored. This study aims to examine the expression level of the Monarch-1 in L. major-infected macrophages, as a negative regulator of the NF-κB activation.

Methods

Murine macrophage cell line (J774 A.1) was infected by metacyclic form of Leishmania promastigotes at macrophage/parasite ratio of 1:10. After harvesting infected cells at different times, total RNA was extracted and converted to cDNA. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed for Monarch-1 by specific primers. Hypoxanthine Phospho-Ribosyl Transferase (HPRT) was used as an internal control to adjust the amount of mRNA in each sample.

Results

Semiquantitive analysis of Monarch-1 mRNA expression level showed a significant expression increase within 6 to 30 hours after L. major infection of macrophages when compared to the control macrophages.

Conclusion

Monarch-1 expression level reveals a significant increase in the early phase of macrophage infection with L. major, which in turn may suppress IL-12 production in Leishmania infected macrophages and deeply influence the relationship between host and parasite.     

The Framingham Disability Study: physical disability among community-dwelling survivors of stroke

The relationship between stroke and physical disability was examined in a cohort of adult, Framingham, Massachusetts, residents who, between 1948 and 1951, were assembled for a longitudinal examination of cardiovascular disease. Multivariate analyses examined the amount of residual disability attributable to stroke among 2540 community-dwelling survivors, 27 years after their initial examination, after controlling for age, cardiovascular risk factors, other cardiovascular diseases, and eight general health conditions related to physical disability. Among men living in the community, a history of stroke explained 12% of the variance in physical disability. Suffering a stroke, however, was not as strongly related to physical disability among women living in the community, accounting for only 3% of the variance. Results suggest that although older men and women die from the same major causes, they may not be disabled by the same conditions.     

'That's like chopping off a finger because you're afraid it might get broken': disease and illness in women's views of prophylactic mastectomy

While data are accumulating on the efficacy of prophylactic mastectomy as a means to reduce breast cancer risk in high risk women, the effectiveness of the procedure depends on women's interest in undergoing the procedure. We report on women's responses to this surgical option as a prevention tool. Data derive from a multi-method study of women's interest in and understandings about genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility. The sample comprises 246 women of varying ethnicities and familial breast cancer risk from Seattle, USA. In this paper, quantitative data are presented on the sociodemographic and risk perception correlates of degree of interest in taking a genetic test for breast cancer if prophylactic mastectomy were the only treatment option. In addition, we report results of a content analysis of women's open-ended responses to the question of whether and why they could imagine undergoing prophylactic mastectomy. Our analysis of these data benefits from a central distinction in medical anthropology between the concepts of illness and disease. We suggest that while prophylactic mastectomy may prevent the "disease" of breast cancer, it may be of little interest to women who see this surgery as itself mimicking the "illness" of breast cancer.     

Clinical findings of irritation among chromium chemical production workers

BACKGROUND: Several reports of workers in chromate production and chromeplating have indicated that exposure to hexavalent chromium is associated with skin and nasal irritation. METHODS: A cohort of 2, 357 workers first employed between 1950 and 1974 at a chromate production plant was identified. Clinical findings of irritation were identified by a physician as a result of routine examinations or visits to the medical clinic by members of the cohort. Percentages of the cohort with various clinical findings, the time from hire to occurrence of the first finding, and the mean and median annual hexavalent chromium (measured as CrO(3)) concentration for the job title where the clinical finding first occurred were determined. A proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the relationship between hexavalent chromium exposure and first occurrence of each of the clinical findings. RESULTS: Nasal irritation and nasal ulceration were the most common clinical findings reported, occurring in more than 60% of the cohort. The average time to first occurrence of these findings was less than 3 months, whereas the time to first occurrence of the other findings ranged from 10 to 22 months. Median exposure to hexavalent chromium at the time of occurrence for most of the findings was about 20 microg/m(3). The proportional hazards model indicated that ulcerated nasal septum, irritated skin, and perforated eardrum were significantly associated with ambient hexavalent chromium exposure; all clinical findings with the exception of conjunctivitis and irritated skin were associated with the calendar year of hire, with the risk being lower as the calendar year of hire became more recent. Annual average ambient hexavalent chromium concentrations generally dropped in the plant over the period of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Workers in the chromate production plant in this study experienced a variety of nasal and skin irritations. Irritated and ulcerated nasal septa, in particular, were quite common clinical findings, occurring in over 60% of the cohort, and they occurred in relatively short periods of time-less than 3 months from date of hire. Annual average concentrations of chromium may not be a good predictor of clinical findings of irritation. Am. J. Ind. Med. 38:127-131, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Drugs in the Brazilian Print Media: An Exploratory Survey of Newspaper and Magazine Stories in the Year 2000

Print media is one of the key factors for defining public opinion and setting public policies regarding drugs. Therefore, surveying its content should provide us with a better understanding of the situation. The few existing surveys on this issue in Brazil point out discrepancies between print media and public health. The objective of the present survey is to enhance the analysis of drug-related stories in the Brazilian print media, based on a new time frame, in the year 2000. Major newspapers and magazines of all Brazilian state capitals have been surveyed throughout year 2000, with 4,669 stories presenting drugs as their main topic. A random sample of 964 stories underwent content analysis. Approximately half the stories (49.6%) dealt with smuggling- and repression-related issues. The remainder of the stories (50.4%) approached health, legislation, and public policy issues. Tobacco was the most widely discussed drug, with stories focusing mainly on damage caused by use and on measures for reducing consumption rates among the population. Articles about cocaine, also featured frequently in the print media, dealt mainly with the issues of drug dealing and of damage caused by cocaine use. Regarding marijuana, in addition to the law enforcement repressive approach, some articles dealt with decriminalization and therapeutic use. Articles about alcoholic beverages, featured less frequently in the print media, approached the subject matter from various angles. The number of stories on solvents and psychotropic medication was negligible. The results confirm discrepancies between print media coverage and epidemiology. They also indicate that each drug is approached differently, allowing for a better understanding of the “social climate” in Brazil regarding each drug. Of all possible social interventions for dealing with the issue repression stands out, whereas stories about treatment and damage reduction are relatively scarce. These findings suggest the need for improved communication between journalists and health professionals.     

Drinking and driving in southeastern Brazil: Results from a roadside survey study

Objective

The objective of this study is to present data from a roadside survey study on drinking and driving and alcohol consumption in southeastern Brazil.

Methods

A cross-sectional roadside survey study using a questionnaire and breathalyzer data is the method used to determine the prevalence of drinking and driving and to examine whether socio-demographic characteristics and drivers' behavior, attitude and alcohol consumption predicted positive blood alcohol content (BAC). The data were gathered from 2005 to 2007 through roadside surveys conducted on high volume public roads in four cities in southeastern Brazil. A total of 4182 randomly selected drivers took part in the research. Of these drivers, 3488 (83.4%) completed the questionnaire and agreed to take a breath test.

Results

Overall, 24.6% of drivers had a detectable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and 15.9% had a BAC above the legal limit (0.6 g/l) at the time of the study. Logistic regression controlling for locale (city), sex, age and marital status was used to predict whether each driver would present a positive breath test. Socio-demographic characteristics, driving behaviors and attitudes, and alcohol consumption patterns were included as predictors. These analyses indicated that those who believed drinking and driving was a serious offense were about two-thirds as likely to have a positive breath test, and that drivers reporting a pattern of regular alcohol use were three times as likely to have a positive breath test.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that drinking and driving is relatively common in Brazil, and that it occurs considerably more frequently than similar surveys suggest, is the case in other countries.     

INCREASED APOPTOSIS,CHANGES IN INTRACELLULAR Ca2+, AND FUNCTIONAL ALTERATIONS IN LYMPHOCYTES AND MACROPHAGES AFTER IN VITRO EXPOSURE TO STATIC MAGNETIC FIELD

Electromagnetic-related alteration of cellular functions is well documented for extremely low-frequency low-energy pulsing electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF). In this study we examined the in vitro effects of static magnetic fields (SMF) on the cellular immune parameters of the C57Bl/ 6 murine macrophages, spleen lymphocytes, and thymic cells. The cells were exposed in vitro for 24 h at 37 C, 5% CO2, to 250-1500 G SMF. Exposure to the SMF resulted in the decreased phagocytic uptake of fluorescent latex microspheres, which was accompanied by an increased intracellular Ca2+ level in macrophages. Exposure to SMF decreased mitogenic responses in lymphocytes, as determined by incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the cells. This was associated with the increased Ca2+ influx in concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes. Furthermore, exposure to SMF produced markedly increased apoptosis of thymic cells, as determined by flow cytometry. Overall, in vitro exposure of immunocompetent cells to 250-1500 G SMF altered several functional parameters of C57Bl/6 murine macrophages, thymocytes, and spleen lymphocytes.     

Alcohol purchase survey by adolescents in two cities of State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol use is a public health problem. Commercial availability is an important factor that encourages the use of alcohol by young people. The aim of the study was to assess how often young people under 18 could buy alcohol in shops METHODS: Adolescents from 13 to 17 attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages at a random sample of shops in the cities of Paulinia (n=108) and Diadema (n=426), Southeastern Brazil. The study was conducted from November to December 2003 in Paulínia, and July 2004 to August 2005 in Diadema. They were told not to lie about their ages when asked and to say that the beverage was for themselves. Statistical tests performed were two-tailed and the significance level considered was p<0.05. RESULTS: Adolescents, under the minimum legal age, were successful in purchasing alcoholic beverages in the first attempt in 85.2% of the surveyed outlets in Paulinia, and 82.4% in Diadema. The adolescents bought alcoholic beverages just as easy in all shops researched. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed almost unanimous easiness of teenagers to obtain alcoholic beverages, suggesting the relevance of this problem in these cities (and probably in Brazil). The urge to adopt specific alcohol policies to this age group is highlighted, in order to reduce alcohol consumption.     

The effect of restricting opening hours on alcohol-related violence

Objective. We investigated whether limiting the hours of alcoholic beverage sales in bars had an effect on homicides and violence against women in the Brazilian city of Diadema. The policy to restrict alcohol sales was introduced in July 2002 and prohibited on-premises alcohol sales after 11 pm.Methods. We analyzed data on homicides (1995 to 2005) and violence against women (2000 to 2005) from the Diadema (population 360 000) police archives using log-linear regression analyses.Results. The new restriction on drinking hours led to a decrease of almost 9 murders a month. Assaults against women also decreased, but this effect was not significant in models in which we controlled for underlying trends.Conclusions. Introducing restrictions on opening hours resulted in a significant decrease in murders, which confirmed what we know from the literature: restricting access to alcohol can reduce alcohol-related problems. Our results give no support to the converse view, that increasing availability will somehow reduce problems.Restricting alcohol availability may reduce alcohol consumption and associated harm, including violence.1 Conversely, relaxing restrictions on the availability of alcohol may lead to increased consumption and problems.2^–6 Thus, for example, neighborhoods that have more bars and alcohol outlets per capita experience more violence.7^–9 Studies of licensing hours have for the most part investigated only modest changes (e.g., extending closing times from midnight to 1:00 am). Such changes might be expected to have only minimal effects. Moreover, these studies have been limited to North America, Europe, or Australia. No studies have examined the effects of changes in sales hours in developing countries, where the alcohol market is largely unregulated. Going beyond previous research, we report on the effects on assaults on women and homicides of a new law significantly restricting sales hours for bars in the Brazilian city of Diadema.A significant proportion of the Brazilian population (17% of men and 6% of women) report alcohol-related problems.10^,11 During 1988–1999, more than 84% of hospital admissions for addictions related to alcohol.12 Alcohol-related violence is also a serious problem. A 1995 São Paulo study found that alcohol was involved in 18 000 homicides, 15% of the 120 111 studied.13 An analysis of 130 homicides in Curitiba from 1990 to 1995 showed that 54% of the victims and 60% of the perpetrators were under the influence of alcohol during the crime.14 These findings highlight the urgent need for new and effective alcohol control policies in Brazil, yet there are few. There is a minimum age to buy and drink alcohol (18 years), there are time restrictions on advertising liquor, although not beer or wine (no television advertising allowed between 6 am and 9 pm), and the blood alcohol limit for drivers is 0.06 g/L. However these policies are poorly enforced, alcohol is cheap and readily available, and there is a high density of retail outlets that sell alcohol (e.g., 1 for every 16 people in a São Paulo suburb).15Diadema, 20 km from the center of São Paulo, is an industrial city with a population (357 064) of predominantly low socioeconomic status. In 1999, Diadema had one of the highest homicide rates in Brazil (103 per 100 000 inhabitants), of which 65% were alcohol related.16 The mayor was concerned about the high murder rate, and police statistics showed that most murders and assaults on women occurred in or close to bars between 11 pm and 6 am. As a result, in July 2002, a new law was introduced in Diadema that closed all bars at 11 pm. Before the law, most bars remained open 24 hours. To evaluate the effect of the new licensing law, we addressed the questions: do the new restrictions reduce murders or assaults against women or both?